National Republican., 1887-07-06
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

COLUMBUS; OR, A HERO OF THE NEW
WORLD. An Historical Play. BY d.
PRESTON. New York q. p. Putnams Sons
sale, Bfentano. el25.
We welcome this as the grandest subject
for drama ever presented to the mind OF
an author.
columbus" is 10 blank verse exclusively
and five acts. The hero enters at the open
ing OF the second scene, with fine effect,
In the hall OF state OF the Alhambra aud
assembly OF Ferdinand and Isabella, and
the prelatee, mobiles, and ladies OF the
court. nis hope Of westward discovery
mentioned Is, OF course, ridiculed by the
eminent audience, but, at last, the king in
elines TO belief on the promise of gold to be
thusiastic, being devout Catholic, because
OF the heather 10 be saved. Scarcity OF funds
seems about to defeat the whole enterprise
when Isabella pledges her jewels for the
outfit.
All this passage is vivid and powerful,
most pleasing in perusal, and on the stage
would be highly attractive and picturesque.
Answering the queen:
'Wby bent you to the task, and not an
oiberp'
Columbus relates his vision-a beautiful
spccch-from which we extract few con-
cluding lines
Madam, q voice like wine of eucharist
Over the oent brim OF the altar cup
Rise; question the dread volume of My word.
For will testify In what thou seekest"
A little moment-and the morn shone In,
Siveiing the Salnted record where It rested.
rose, and TO the Sacred volume staggered.
Open, wide open lay the oracle,
As had some angel rout displayed II there;
As heavens light, flashed, aigzag from the
That the brain giddlcd, though the soul was
Tho ,nynna,. of ar ...t,t
The heathcn for thine heritage, aud what
lands
Are uttcrmost, to be for thy possession
Ny queen, kissed the happy page and closed
My pulse was stilled-the calling was to me.
In addition TO the scenes suggested,
Others Of extraordinary force are, the mu-
tiny at sea on the Santa Maria, the revela-
tion Of the new world to Columbus by the
magic Of the genius, the real discovery, the
return OF Columbus In chains, his vindlca-
tion, and the vision Of the future, includ-
ing the sublimity Of the United States,
which ends the play.
The whole effect OF this work, after com
plete and careful reading, is perfectly salts
factory, go far as mere reading can be, but
irrepressible desire rises to witness the
proper theatrical representation as the only
true justice to Columbus"
We quote few lines at intervals, re-
GREETING that we may not reproduce more.
Columbus returned In chains after the
to grant audience:
How can inject him2
His slightest word would make my lips grow
And, Oh, his silence that were shame o'cr all /
The noblett nature that can swerye from right
Redeems Its alteration through its pain.
| bo dnn,, ~ l,t,ca
| TO bound their sovereignty by no horizon,
Their presence by straight walls. The higher
Passes, though fell OF faultiness, for true;
The innocence at distance for deceitful.
PRELIMINARY REPORT of the Commission
Appointed by the University of Pennsyl-
in accordance with the request of the late
Henry Seybert. Philadelphia ]. b. Lin.
| pincott Co. Sale, A. s. Witherbee. VI.
| The late Henry Seybert, lifelong
believer IN spiritualism, shortly before his
death presented a sum OF money to the
University OF Pennsylvania to found a
chair Of philosophy, on condition, among
other requirements, that the university
should appoint commission to investigate
modern epiritualism.
port, embraces 159 pages Much yet ro-
mains to be investigated. The books may
extend to the "crack OF doom''-or to the
exhaustion Of the fund appropriated.
Now, as to the commissioners They are
ten in number, seven being doctors, two
professors, and the other o plain Mr.. at
their earliest meeting, each expressed his
entire freedom from all prejudices against
the subject to be Investigated, and his
readiness to accept any conclusion war.
ranted by facts; one OF the number, DR.
Furness, acting chairman, confessing an in
clination In favor OF the substantial truth OF
spiritualism.
Strange to say, this very gentleman sub
sequently was the most decided opponent
of the claim OF our mystical brethren.
The slate writing, the reading OF sealed
letters, the craps" the naturalization OF
spirits, and all other Of tnese celestial reve-
lstions were incontestibly proved frauds.
| Why the investigation should proceed
further we cannot determine.
Any reasonable mind, 1t seems to us,
where there has been experience Of spir-
itualism. would at once decide against its
truth. Not much observation Is required
to detect falsehood from act to act. Its re-
vealngs deal only In generalities, and the
"wisdom" II transmits from happy spheres
is only worthy of the lowest Ignorance OF
this world. Every such communication
is so simple and self-evident that
II needs no ghost
Come from the grave to tell us that, Horatio
Some Of the "Guides in Spirit" the sub
limated immortals, favor us with "Mes
sages" In verse. A single specimen, one
stapza merely, will doubtless satisfy the
reader.
| In earth lie was tall and fair,
| With Jet black eyes and golden hair;
| Eyes that sparkled with mirth and song,
| And whose hair In curls one yard long.
| Thus far In its report It is evident thai
| a apl n ntpl lafn in,r hnt Ia.
most impudent and unblushing imposition
In spiritualism.
TRADE ORGANIZATIONS IN POLITICS
| ALSO, PROGRESS AND ROBBERY. Al
| MILLER. New York: The baker / Taylor
Co. sale, John f. Paret.
A thorough treatise on these subjects
Trace Organizations in Public Affairs, Fed
eralism and the Social Contract Theory
Universal Suffrage In Cities, Argument oil
the Aldermanic Bill, Property and Robbery
With Property Owners Answer, A Bust
ness Mans Answer, A WOrkingmau's An
swer, and Progress and Justice.
| The answers TO Henry George appear tc
be unanswerable.
THE ECLECTIC MAGAZINE OF FoREIG.
LITERATURE, July. 45 cents; g. a year
| Publisher.
A beautiful view Of Venice, first, AM
then the banquet OF our English brethren
invites.
How to chooses AS each may please
let him help himself. No failure, here, Il
satisfy each taste.
We enjoy, especially, "Nature an,
Books,n "Mental Differences Between Mel
and Women,n "A French Critic on Yicto
Hugo" and "Literature and Action.
| Much vet remains unmentiOnel Iool